And he capped his fine cameo with an excellent goal, his first in a Royals shirt for 19 months.

“There is no better feeling than scoring,” said Karacan. “It makes you realise why you have been working so hard to get back.

“I know I’m not back to where I know I can be yet. I know I’m still on that ladder and it will take time, but it was a great moment.

“It was for the fans who stuck by me through thick and thin and it was for my family.”

He added: “It’s been a tough time, I’m not going to lie.

“But you just try and have confidence in your ability so when you do get an opportunity, you give everything to prove to the gaffer and to the people sitting upstairs that you’re worthy of another couple of years.

“If the club think I’m worthy of another contract then I’ll be signing on the dotted line.”

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